Word origins

• octuplicateA set of eight like or identical things.
• oolithA spherical granule of which oolite is composed, formed by concentric accretion of thin layers of a mineral (usually calcium carbonate (limestone) but also others such as dolomite and silica) around a core; an ooid.
• oppugnancyThe act of oppugning; opposition; resistance
• OrigenistOf or relating to Origenism, the teachings of Origen of Alexandria that were anathematized by the Synod of Constantinople (543).
• OstrogothAny member of an ancient East Germanic tribe, one branch of the Goths (the Visigoths being the other), which invaded Italy in the sixth century.
• palatopharyngeusA long, fleshy longitudinal muscle, narrower in the middle than at either end, that arises from the soft palate, contributes with the mucous membrane covering its surface to the structure of the palatopharyngeal arch, and is inserted into the thyroid cartilage and the wall of the pharynx; it serves to constrict the fauces and draw the larynx and pharynx upwards.
• paragramA play on words; a pun.
• paraphernaA woman's property which was not made a part of her marriage dower, but remained her own.
• partibleDivisible, able to be divided or partitioned.
• pedilaviumThe rite of foot-washing based on the act carried out by Jesus Christ on his disciples at the Last Supper. Depending on the church or denomination, it may be carried out at baptism, during Holy Communion, or as part of a Maundy Thursday service; maundy.
• pentarchyGovernment by five persons.
• pentasyllabicHaving five syllables.
• per accidensBy chance; by reason of an accidental, incidental or non-essential circumstance; contingently; indirectly.
• per annumIn a year.
• peroneusAny of several muscles of the lateral side of the leg, which arise from the fibula and act to move the foot.
• planularOf or pertaining to a plane.
• poliorceticsThe art of siege warfare, namely, that of conducting or resisting a siege.
• posse comitatusThe able-bodied men over 15 in a given county who can be summoned by the sheriff to help keep the peace, or arrest a felon; also a group of men so gathered.
• postcibalSynonym of postprandial.
• prefixumA prefix.
• prenexOf a formula, having all of its quantifiers at the beginning.
• principiateThe product of a principle.
• prothesisThe prepending of phonemes at the beginning of a word without changing its morphological structure, as in Spanish esfera from Greek (via Latin) sphaera (“sphere”) (without prothesis the word would have become *sfera).
• quadrangulateTo divide (a plane or other surface) into quadrangles, often by removing the dividing line between two adjacent triangles (following a previous triangulation).
• quadrenniumA period of 4 years, particularly (historical) the sets of four years in the ancient Egyptian and Greek calendars.
• quinquangleSynonym of pentagon (“a polygon with five sides and five angles”).
• redhibitoryOf or pertaining to redhibition (the annulling of a sale).
• risoriusA narrow band of facial muscle arising from the fascia over the masseter and inserting into the tissues at the corner of the mouth, which it draws laterally, as is used when smiling.
• sanatoryproducing health; healing or curative
• satyriasisExcessive sexual desire, found in a man.
• scansionThe rhythm or meter of a line or verse.
• sciomancydivination using shadows
• septenniumA period of seven years.
• silentiaryA person who keeps silent, especially from religious motives.
• spheralspherical
• spleneticBad-tempered, irritable, peevish, spiteful, habitually angry.
• strobilusSensu strictissimo a more-or-less cone-shaped fruiting body of any of various vascular Pteridophyta, such as horsetail, that bear spores;
• subridentCharacterized by a smile; smiling.
• subrisionAn act of smiling.
• sub rosaCovertly or in secret; confidentially, privately, secretly.
• superparticularOf a natural number, being larger than another natural number by a unit fraction of that smaller number.
• suppletiveMaking up for deficiencies; supplementary; suppletory.
• suppletoryA source of supply.
• temporaneoustemporary
• tetraeterisSynonym of quadrennium: A four-year period, particularly (historical) those used in ancient Egyptian and Greek astronomical calculations.
• theatricRelating to acting or the theater, theatrical.
• TheodericA male given name of historical usage, notably borne by Flāvius Theodericus Magnus (Theoderic the Great) (c. 454–526 CE), King of the Ostrogoths (from 475), of the Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy (from 493), and of the Visigoths (from 511).
• tmesisThe insertion of one or more words between the components of a compound word.
• valleculaA depression, channel, or groove.
• variegateTo add variety to something.
• verrucouswart-like, resembling a verruca; verrucose
• vesicantCausing blistering to the skin.
• vinaceousContaining wine.